Note: distances (in miles) are calculated as the
crow flies; it may be further by road or on foot.

Above Photograph(s)
Copyright of John Williams

Quaker Burial Ground, Corse

Quaker Burial Ground,
Church Lane,
Corse, Gloucestershire.

Church History

This Cemetery or Burial Ground was founded before 1660, but we understand it was closed before 1821.

The Victoria County History series:
A History of the County of Gloucester, Volume 8:
Cleeve, Deerhurst and Tibblestone, and the lower divisions of Tewkesbury and Westminster (1968) pp.271-281 (Corse) records Quaker burials in Corse, the earliest reference being of Sarah, wife of Mark Grimes, buried in 1660. The Grimes owned Corse Farm (later Corse Court), and George Fox himself is said to have had held meetings in their house in Gloucester. It also notes that a burial ground adjoining the churchyard was conveyed to the trustees in 1678 [GRO: D 1340/B 3/T 2].

The VCH account advises that the use of the burial ground by Quakers does not necessarily mean that Quakers were actually living in the parish, and the return of 1676 recorded no nonconformists. It mentions twelve Quakers were buried there 1700-9, but cites evidence that it was probably no longer used after 1785, and certainly not by 1821. The burial ground, east of the church, was later included in St Margaret's Churchyard - our photograph shows where it would have been.

An information board inside St Margaret's Church advises that "the Enclosure maps mark a meeting house alongside the church, and Quaker communities were recorded at the end of the 17th century in neighbouring Ashleworth, Hasfield and Tirley. Members were amongst the founders of Cheltenham in Pennysylvania". However the VCH cautions that "the meeting house recorded [in Corse] in 1797 [GRO: Q/RI 50, map and schedules] was probably a mistake for a small building connected with the burial ground; a Quaker meetinghouse in Corse is not otherwise recorded."

The information board also records that by 1797, Corse Court belonged to James "Jemmy" Wood (1756-1835), the eccentric Gloucester banker, and one of the richest men in the country at the time. He is said to have charged the Quakers 6s. 8d. (33p) for access across his land to their burial ground, even after it had ceased to be used. Such parsimony goes a long way to explaining how he became so rich! He is buried in St Mary de Crypt's Church in Gloucester.

Denomination

Now or formerly a Cemetery (Quaker).

In most cases this will be a record of its original consecration.

Maps

This Cemetery was located at OS grid reference SO7887426515. You can see this on various mapping systems. Note all links open in a new window:

www.magic.gov.uk (Modern Maps with various overlays)
Zoom out to 1:100000 to see County boundaries, and 1:500000 to show Parish Boundaries.

Reference

Places recorded by the Registrar
General under the provisions of the Places of Worship
Registration Act 1855 (2010) is available as a
"Freedom of Information" document from the website
What Do They Know.

You can specify either a Place, or OS Grid Reference to
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Further Information

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